saturate

sat·u·rate | \ ˈsa-chə-ˌrāt

How to pronounce saturate (audio)

\

saturated; saturating

Definition of saturate

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to satisfy fully : satiate

2 : to treat, furnish, or charge with something to the point where no more can be absorbed, dissolved, or retained water saturated with salt

3a : to fill completely with something that permeates or pervades book is saturated with Hollywood— Newgate Callendar

b : to load to capacity

4 : to cause to combine until there is no further tendency to combine

saturate

sat·u·rate | \ ˈsach-rət

How to pronounce saturate (audio)

, ˈsa-chə- \

Definition of saturate (Entry 2 of 2)

Other Words from saturate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about saturate

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Choose the Right Synonym for saturate

Verb

soak, saturate, drench, steep, impregnate mean to permeate or be permeated with a liquid. soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing. soak the garment in soapy water saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held. a saturated sponge drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured. clothes drenched by a cloudburst steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (such as a color) to the thing immersed. steep the tea for five minutes impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another. a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

Examples of saturate in a Sentence

Verb Saturate the sponge with water. Images of the war saturated the news. Their new products are saturating the market. Adjective the test will only work if the sample cloth is saturate with solution

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Sunday saw plenty of rain, which can saturate soils and weaken root support for trees, and wind gusts up to 35 mph were recorded in the Portland region. — oregonlive, "Massive oak falls on Beaverton apartment; 2 trapped but escape safely," 4 Jan. 2021 But the inquiries will give plenty of grist to Fox News and other conservative news outlets to saturate their audiences with along the way. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "Bill Barr Will Go Down in History as Trump’s Worst Enabler," 15 Dec. 2020 For people who care less about the cultural noise and more about big local earthquakes, Wolin cautions that geophones will saturate in the event of shaking strong enough to feel—the waves will be larger than the detector can register. — Alka Tripathy-lang, Ars Technica, "As the world quieted down in 2020, Raspberry Shakes listened," 17 Dec. 2020 Gently swirl enough hot water to fully saturate the grounds in the bottom of your cup. — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, "How to Use a French Press for a Delightful Start to Your Morning," 17 Dec. 2020 That would saturate the free-agent landscape with a flood of major league talent, further depressing the market for players below the star tier. — Los Angeles Times, "Dollars and decisions: Will the Dodgers dive in when the hot stove heats up?," 24 Nov. 2020 The goal was to convey an emphatic but empathetic message of hope and to saturate areas most affected by the virus. — Elaine Ayala, ExpressNews.com, "Ayala: ‘It’s not political’ — Tejano singer-songwriter Shelly Lares wears a mask to protect her elderly mother, her fans and her fellow musicians. She wishes everyone would.," 17 Nov. 2020 To plant seeds, choose a spot in full sun, rake soil smooth, then water to saturate the soil. — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, "7 things to take care of in the garden in November," 7 Nov. 2020 The move polarized the local taxi community, with some predicting more prosperity for cab drivers and others predicting that more permits would saturate the market and hurt nearly every driver. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Seeking to even playing field with Uber and Lyft, San Diego loosening cab regulations," 28 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'saturate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Learn More about saturate

Dictionary Entries near saturate

saturable reactor

saturated diving

saturated steam

Statistics for saturate

Last Updated

14 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Saturate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saturate. Accessed 15 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for saturate

saturate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of saturate

: to make (something) very wet

: to fill (something) completely with something

See the full definition for saturate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

saturate

sat·u·rate | \ ˈsa-chə-ˌrāt

\

saturated; saturating

Kids Definition of saturate

: to soak completely Saturate the sponge with water.

saturate

transitive verb

sat·u·rate | \ ˈsach-ə-ˌrāt

\

saturated; saturating

Medical Definition of saturate

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to treat, furnish, or charge with something to the point where no more can be absorbed, dissolved, or retained water saturated with salt a bandage saturated with blood

2 : to cause to combine until there is no further tendency to combine

saturate

sat·u·rate | \ -rət

\

Medical Definition of saturate (Entry 2 of 2)

: a saturated chemical compound

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